Fit As A Fiddle

To all of you who work sleepless nights in hospitals to care for others this year (and every year) - we salute you. It hasn’t been an easy year for anyone. People who have had to directly interact with and treat patients who were diagnosed with the Coronavirus had unique challenges. Not only did they have to deal with the global uncertainties and their own families, but they also had to be present and strong for their patients. 

Heather Isola, the Director of Physician Assistants at Mount Sinai Health System, chats with us today on how healthcare workers in her hospital dealt with some of these challenges behind the scenes. She starts off by explaining some of the differences in the role of a Physician’s Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), and other healthcare professionals. She then dives into the severe impact that COVID-19 had in New York City, the reconfiguration and adaptability of the healthcare system, and issues that healthcare professionals have in addressing their emotional needs.

Heather directs over 900 PAs for excellence in patient-care and operations. Heather has spent the last 10 years clinically working at a Urogynecology PA at the Faculty Practice of Mount Sinai specializing in women’s health, contraception management, incontinence, pelvic floor health, and vaginal health. Her goals is to operationalize Advanced Practice Providers to operate at top of licensure to increase patient care, safety, quality and throughput while utilizing the versatility, strength and team collaboration that PAs bring to the healthcare delivery of Mount Sinai Health System.

Estimates reveal that anywhere from 11-40% of adults in the U.S. have chronic pain, which is linked to disability, opioid addiction, anxiety, depression, and increased medical costs. More specifically, chronic pelvic pain affects up to nearly a quarter of all women worldwide. 

Dr. Jana Scrivani, a clinical psychologist specializing in pelvic pain, joins us for a lively conversation today to answer the question - “What is Pain?” She discusses how pain is real and is mediated by the brain by various pathways in the nervous system. Dr. Scrivani created a behavioral health program for Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine called Retrain Your Brain where she guides clients through virtual group sessions to understand their pain. Her goal is to empower her patients to help them change the way they act, think and approach their bodies.

Dr. Scrivani received her Psy.D. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. She completed an APA approved internship at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in San Diego, where she also completed her postdoctoral training. She currently holds licenses to practice psychology in the state of New York, Florida, Virginia, DC, Maryland,and Michigan. As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Scrivani is passionately committed to helping her clients be their best possible selves by making meaningful changes in their thoughts and behaviors.

Connect with Dr. Scrivani and Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine at https://www.pelvicrehabilitation.com/

Call 713-487-1580 to set up a 10-min free consultation to see if the Retrain Your Brain Course is right for you.

Most people have experienced a stomach issue at some point - abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea. Sometimes these symptoms go away in a few hours or days. But many times, people live with these issues for weeks, months, or even years and require medical intervention. The great news about issues related to your GI tract is that many symptoms can be alleviated with lifestyle modifications including changes in your diet and exercise.

Today we chat with Dr. Megha Kothari, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist, on 3 of the most common abdominal issues she sees in her clinic daily: GERD, IBS, and Fatty Liver Disease. Her first line of defense with all patients is educating them and providing advice on changes in their daily habits to manage symptoms. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) presents in nearly 20% of the population. IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a more female-dominant issue that can present as a collection of symptoms. Dr. Kothari discusses the mind-gut connection and how stress and hormonal changes for females can contribute to IBS. Finally, we end with Fatty Liver Disease, which is usually unrecognized and can lead to more serious complications such as cirrhosis. Dr. Kothari educates us on the importance of weight loss for patients with this disease and how losing 10% of body mass is key to alleviating symptoms.

Dr. Megha Kothari is a clinical instructor at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell and an attending physician at New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where she is the Assistant Director of Hepatology and Director of Women’s Health. Dr. Kothari is board certified in Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Obesity medicine, and Internal Medicine. Dr. Kothari is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Connect with her at https://meghakotharimd.com/

You might have heard of all the different types of challenging races: sprints, Olympic distances, Iron Mans, or Escape from Alcatraz. Personally, I’m lucky if I can even endure a 3-mile run, so I didn’t know much about them! On today’s episode, you’ll hear the story of a woman who started by not knowing how to swim... to competing in these very races. Now, she even coaches others to do them too!

Sara Dimmick, founder and co-partner of Physical Equilibrium has been a personal trainer since 2000 and chats with us today on how to train for races like triathlons. She has coached triathlon and running clients since 2006, many of whom have qualified for national and world competitions. Sara discusses how races give you motivation to stay fit without even trying. The goal is winning, not necessarily the number on the scale. Some of the races have extreme conditions like 50-degree water, 3-foot waves, and maybe even sharks!

Sara mentions that you don’t have to be an athlete to train. Using her knowledge of injury prevention and post rehabilitation fitness, Sara designs effective and safe gym programs for her clients to excel and stay injury-free. She also teaches group classes in strength training for endurance athletes, family workouts with kids, and other total body strengthening classes for adults. Connect with her at www.physeq.com.

As of 2018, 55% of our total world population live in cities. Studies show that living in urban environments increases the risk for psychosis, anxiety disorders, and depression due to reasons like social isolation, poverty, and discrimination. In fact, over 90% of Gen Z said they have experienced some degree of physical or mental stress. However, globally, there aren’t as many resources for urban youth to seek help for the unique challenges they face. In today’s episode, we have our youngest guest, Gina Geshlider, a NYC-raised 21-year-old, who talks to us about her platform called Citwellbeing. Gina discusses how wellness services like massage and acupuncture are prevalent throughout the cities, but are usually inaccessible to people her age because they are too expensive. Gina shares with us the impact of increased drug use, violence, social media, and technology in NYC youth, and how we can take steps to overcome the stressors that Gen Z face. 

Gina is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and the founder of Citywellbeing, a wellness platform that caters to Gen-Z. After struggling with her own mental health she began learning to take optimal care of herself in order to flourish and grow. Her mission is to support her fellow young people who have grown up in urban settings to navigate their wellness. She strives to share what has helped her, and at the same time provide a platform that amplifies other's experiences. 

It seems pretty basic, right? Just feed your baby… Keep your baby healthy. But in the world we live in now, it’s actually not as easy as it sounds. Back in the day we lived in larger family units, with more support for birthing parents. Especially in a place like New York and during the pandemic, you might not even have enough space for family to visit, let alone provide more long term care for you and your baby. The struggle is real, and mothers - we hear you! 

Jada Shapiro, a maternal health expert and founder of Boober and Birth Day Presence, chats with us today on the importance of seeking and getting help for mothers. She discusses the various reasons a mother might not be able to breastfeed her baby, including hospital guidelines for skin-to-skin contact, maternity leaves, structural issues like a baby’s tongue tie, and more. Jada reveals how Americans today can find it harder than ever to feel confident and comfortable in their new role as a parent. 

Jada has assisted hundreds of births for first-time parents, A-list celebrities, and everyone in between. Jada advises leading actors about childbirth and breastfeeding for major films and is a sought-out media expert on pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, lactation, and newborn parenting. Boober is an online space where expectant parents and new families find vetted pregnancy to postpartum care providers, like doulas, lactation consultants, or mental health therapists when they need it (in-person or virtual). Birth Day Presence is a space in Park Slope that offers childbirth classes and doula training, which has supported over 20,000 parents since 2002. Connect with her at www.getboober.com.

Whether you are a weekend warrior playing volleyball, a high schooler playing baseball after school, or a professional athlete representing your country, keeping your body strong and healthy is key to continuing your sport. As you take steps to improve your performance, it’s important to look at how you train, when you train, and how much you train. Vijay Vallab, the physiotherapist for New Zealand’s Cricket Team (Black Caps) and the National Manager for Acute Physiotherapy at Proactive joins us today from New Zealand to teach us about his work. 

He discusses the importance of communicating with athletes to help them understand their injuries and emphasizes a holistic approach to healing. Vijay routinely works alongside the team’s strength & conditioning specialist, the coach, psychologists, chiropractors, nutritionists, and whoever else needs to be a part of the plan. He discusses the pressures of returning to sport for professional players and how everyone’s goals must align to provide optimal care. 

Vijay has worked with a number of age group athletes and has a special interest in performance enhancement in sports, Vijay’s focus is also to promote education, movement and make people aware and address some of their daily habits that subsequently help improve overall health and performance, using then 4 Corners of Health, Physical, Mindset, Sleep and Nutrition.

Connect with him at: https://proactive4health.co.nz/

Link to ACC SportsSmart Warm Up: https://www.accsportsmart.co.nz/warmup/

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “Chinese Medicine?” You might have thought of “acupuncture” or “needles.” The truth is, Chinese Medicine encompasses so much more than just acupuncture, which has become very prominent in the Western world. Acupuncture has become so popular that some physicians in the West practice evidence-based “medical acupuncture,” the roots deriving from traditional East Asian practice. Christiane Siebert joins us today to teach us about the historical basis of Chinese Medicine and the various modalities used within its practice including: nutrition, botanical medicine, guasha, massage, cupping, salves/liniments, heat therapy, and Tai Chi. 

Christiane is a board-certified doctor of Chinese medicine, a licensed acupuncturist, and a naturopathic practitioner. She is the founder and director of Serenity Health Arts, a center for integrative holistic medicine in New York City, where she focuses on women's reproductive health, helping her clients achieve optimum wellness naturally. Connect with her at www.serenityhealtharts.com

Many people experience back pain. Of those, several will invariably receive imaging (X-ray or MRI usually). And of those, several will be told that they have 1 or more structural issues, such as a disc bulge or stenosis. Sometimes when we receive a diagnosis like this, we think we are stuck with it forever. That nothing can be done, and that we have to live with the back pain for the rest of our lives. Physical therapists, and physiotherapists, believe otherwise. Today I had a wonderful conversation with Rory Martin, a New Zealand-based physiotherapist at TBI Health, a national company of integrated allied health disciplines that focuses on long term strategy for the treatment of spinal pain and functional rehab.

The integrated approach emphasizes that function and movement matter more than a diagnosis. In this sense, who cares if you have a disc herniation on an MRI if you can still do everything that you want to do? Rory delves into the New Zealand healthcare system, which has a very different approach than the United States in how care is delivered. He discusses the complex neurophysiology of pain in a simple way. 

I spent a few months in New Zealand a few years ago learning TBI’s unique approach to back pain and overall well being. Many of the strategies I learned from Rory during my time there, I still apply to the work I do as a PT in New York City. 

Rory’s current role as the Wellington Regional Manager involves overseeing six clinics that accommodate a wide range of different allied health disciplines including physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists and orthopaedic surgeons. Connect with them at https://www.tbihealth.co.nz/

The body has an immense capacity to heal on its own. To optimize your natural healing mechanisms, regenerative medicine specialists can help you reach your goals. For the past 20+ years, Dr. Scott Greenberg has studied the behavior of stem cells. After healing himself of chronic head and neck pain from a car accident that occurred at age 17, Dr. Greenberg continues to immerse himself in studying the complex nature of tissue-specific stem cells, how they regenerate nerve, joint and tissue systems, and how they depend on other blood components to heal an injury. His philosophy is holistically-oriented, with exercise, nutrition, and general emotional/mental health at the forefront of wellness. In this episode, he breaks down the uses and mechanism of stem cell therapy, prolotherapy, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) in a very easily-understandable manner. He dives into epigenetics and explains how we should not be labeled by our genetics or our diseases, but rather, be empowered to take control over our bodies.

Connect with him by visiting https://greenbergregen.com.